Davidson rolls past Belmont Abbey in exhibition game

By Richard Walker

Published: Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 09:43 PM.

DAVIDSON – Facing a team with five returning starters and its eight top returning scorers and rebounders back from a championship team, Belmont Abbey College suffered a predictable 121-73 blowout defeat to Davidson Thursday in an exhibition game.

But the contest offered much more than a mismatch between a Wildcats’ team that’s an overwhelming favorite to repeat as Southern Conference champion and a Crusaders team picked to finish 5th in the 11-team Conference Carolinas.

It offered the opportunity for Davidson senior guard J.P. Kuhlman to play against his younger brother, Belmont Abbey sophomore guard Justin Kuhlman.

“It was real weird playing against him,” said J.P. Kuhlman, whose older brother Patrick Kuhlman also played at Belmont Abbey. “But it was fun. I’m glad I got to play against him.”

The Crusaders, who officially open their season Nov. 9 in a three-day tournament in Puerto Rico, never led in the contest against Davidson, which went 25-8 last season.

The Wildcats had six double-figure scorers led by former Hopewell High standout De’Mon Brooks’ 21 points. J.P. Kuhlman had 12 points.

For the Abbey, Tyshawn Good had 25 points and Jacksonville transfer Chris Davidson, playing in his first game for the Crusaders, had 23 points. Justin Kuhlman had six points for the Abbey, which was without three top players – Ryan Conrad (hip), Darryl Durham (back) and Zach Sowell (back) – due to injuries.

DAVIDSON – Facing a team with five returning starters and its eight top returning scorers and rebounders back from a championship team, Belmont Abbey College suffered a predictable 121-73 blowout defeat to Davidson Thursday in an exhibition game.

But the contest offered much more than a mismatch between a Wildcats’ team that’s an overwhelming favorite to repeat as Southern Conference champion and a Crusaders team picked to finish 5th in the 11-team Conference Carolinas.

It offered the opportunity for Davidson senior guard J.P. Kuhlman to play against his younger brother, Belmont Abbey sophomore guard Justin Kuhlman.

“It was real weird playing against him,” said J.P. Kuhlman, whose older brother Patrick Kuhlman also played at Belmont Abbey. “But it was fun. I’m glad I got to play against him.”

The Crusaders, who officially open their season Nov. 9 in a three-day tournament in Puerto Rico, never led in the contest against Davidson, which went 25-8 last season.

The Wildcats had six double-figure scorers led by former Hopewell High standout De’Mon Brooks’ 21 points. J.P. Kuhlman had 12 points.

For the Abbey, Tyshawn Good had 25 points and Jacksonville transfer Chris Davidson, playing in his first game for the Crusaders, had 23 points. Justin Kuhlman had six points for the Abbey, which was without three top players – Ryan Conrad (hip), Darryl Durham (back) and Zach Sowell (back) – due to injuries.

“First of all, we’ve very grateful to (Davidson) coach (Bob) McKillop and his staff for letting us have this opportunity and for the Kuhlmans to have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

It was the eighth straight year the Abbey has played NCAA Division I competition in a preseason exhibition. And the Crusaders have one more exhibition remaining – Saturday at N.C. State.

It’s the first time the Crusaders have played Davidson in an exhibition and the first time the two schools have met in basketball since 1962 at Davidson’s old Johnston Gymnasium. The Wildcats also won that contest, 56-46, when eventual Hall of Famer Al McGuire was the Belmont Abbey head coach.

“We play these games for exposure,” Miss said. “One, to play a major college team and two, to expose our weaknesses and show what we need to work on.”

Davidson shot 54.4 percent from the field, including 45.5 on 3-pointers, and outrebounded the smaller Crusaders 52-25.

The Abbey forced 17 turnovers, with Davis getting a game-high three steals.